Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-05-03
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warehouse with Its contents was nothing
but heap OF living Goals. The Asniey
House was burned almost to the ground,
and only the side nearest Fort street re-
nsined standing. Messrs. Walton 4
Wachtel had altogether about S2o,ooo
worth Of furniture stored in the ware.
bouse. and were intending to move In
few DAYS. Part of the furniture stored
was to nave gone out to-day, as it was
for the new hotel at Santa Monica. ln
this lot of furniture about $4,000 had
heeu invested and the cars had already
been engaged to carry it to its destins-
tion. This furniture was insured, 1t was
stated, for about $4,000 in various com.
panies, but so far as could be ascertained d
there was no insurance on the building.
THE ASHLEY HOUSE.
The Ashley house was built last sum.
mer and had only been occupied
by Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Ash.
ley since last November. 1t
had been furnished quite elegantly
and was one of the most popular board.
ing houses in the city. 1t has been full
all winter, but just at this time the
boarders were not so many in number.
Only yesterday morning three left,
among whom were Mr.. Robinson and
niece. Those who remained, Mrs. Wells
probably Jared the worst, for she lost
all of her money and clothing. She was
lust retiring, and had put her satchel
con tanning her money in safe place
With her watch. In the excitement she
forgot her valuablos, probably because
she bad been sick and was rather weak.
Before she could properly attire herself,
the flames and smoke file 1 the room,
and she wac forced to fly. She obtained
refuge and clothing at house across
the street. Others stopping in the
house were MIR. and Mrs. r. z.
Edgarton, Mr.. and Mrs. l. X.
Webb, Mrs. M. N. Toy, Mr.. Mar
tin, Mrs. and Miss Conley, Mrs.
Mason, Mr.. and Mrs, Ashley and son.
two servant girls, Mary and Carrie and
the Chinese cook. None of these knew
whether they had saved everything. but
the probability is that many of their
most valuable effects were stolen, for
there were seen about the FIRE many
we'll known thieves. Officer Botello
caught J. f. Lynch 10 the act Of carry.
ing off satchel and charged him with
robbery at the police station. Captain
TYLER captured small boy named Jem-
mie Wiley in the act of carrying off o
butter knife. Jennie was charged with
petit larceny. While carrying out the
contents ofthe Ashley House, P. r. Fro.
Itch found tin box labeled P. Conley,
which contained a large amount OF
money. He gave it to its owner. The
Ashley house was the property of }. b.
Lankershim and cost about $4,000
1t was insured in the Southern
California Insurance Co. for S4,-
600, and for $1,000 10 another
company. The. First Congregational
church was insured for $4,000 in Dob
inson & Fsiichild's insurance company
and the furniture for $4,000 in the same
company. The damage, mainly to the
furniture, roof and side of the wing,
amounted to about $4,000, as near as
could be estimated. In consequence OF
the fire the meeting of the General As
soeiation of Ministers aud Churches OF
Southern California, which was to have
convened to-day at 2 o'clock in the Con.
gregational church, will, through the
kindness of the trustees, be held in the
First Presbyterian church, on the cor.
ner of Second and Fort streets, at the
same hour.
INCIDENTS.
lt was ascersained later that the man
whom Mr.. Campbell had seen break in
the door wss V. G. Van Ellen. of No.
is South Main street, who stated thai he
had observed the fire, broken in the
door and given the alarm.
During The progress of the fire Deputy
Constable johnson lost all the papers
belonging to Justice Taney's courtroom
that he had in his pocket. Mr.. johnson
was very active in removing valuables
from the Ashley House, and it was sup
posed that his papers came out OF his
pocket during that time.
The constabulary force generally were
very active in aiding in keeping order
and saving furniture.
The police force bad its hands full in
keeping the crowd on the outside of The
fire lines, which had been stretched
across the street on both sidos OF the
fire.
w uuo tuc cASiieAAone NeS Nv ito
height and every body was looking at
the reflection on the sky, Messrs. BaeI
and Germain inadvertently left the till
unmatched in their store on Spring
street, just south Of First. Some sneak
| thief carried off tho inner drawer and its
contents, So. 1t was fortunate that
most of the money had been removed a
| short time before.
One Of the roomers in the Hollenbeck
block left his room in so great hurry
to go to the fire that he forgot to turn
off bis gas which blazed up and scorched
the ceiling. 1t was observed by Officer
McKeag at the Police Station, and the
room broken iuto and the light turned
off just in time to prevent the ceiling
from igniting.